Marriage for Eternity and Polygamy

Marriage for Eternity & Polygamy

The following is a statement by Brigham Young,
August 19, 1866
Journal of Discourses, Vol.11, p.268 - p.269,
"The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy."

Some people in the Old Testament did have more than one wife, but it was never condoned by God. It was certainly never
commanded by God. The leaders in the Mormon Church ignored the New Testament on this all together.

1 Tim 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable,
able to teach,

1 Tim 3:12 Let deacons be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

Titus 1:5-7 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I
directed you, namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of
dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not
addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,

Joseph Smith used the polygamous practices of David and Solomon as justification for polygamy. But this is a very direct
contradiction to the teachings of the Book of Mormon. Then the Book of Mormon contradicts the Doctrine & Covenants.

Jacob 2:23-24 But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people
begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms,
because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.
24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.

D&C 132:1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and
understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my
servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines--

D&C 132:39 David's wives and concubines were given unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the
prophets who had the keys of this power; and in none of these things did he sin against me save in the case of Uriah and his
wife; and, therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation, and received his portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I
gave them unto another, saith the Lord

So we have read that Brigham Young said that you have to practice polygamy to become a God. The Bible says a Church
leader should only have one wife. Then the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants contradict each other on the same
subject!

Now if you have to be married in the L.D.S temple to reach exaltation. Why then did Jesus say the following?

Matt 22:30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

Matt 19:12 "For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were made
eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is
able to accept this, let him accept it."

I would think Jesus would want me to reach exaltation. But by his statement I would say that he is not concerned about this or it
is not true that I must me married in the L.D.S temple to reach exhalation. Or there is no exaltation.

Paul also said things that would seem to conflict with this Mormon concept.

1 Cor 7:8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.

The reason why Paul said it was good to be single is explained later in this chapter.

1 Cor 7:32-33 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he
may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

Now I know that there is nothing wrong with being married as Paul also said in this chapter. This does seem to conflict with the
idea that I must be married in the L.D.S temple to reach exaltation. Otherwise Paul would not say that it was good to be single
so that I could focus more on the Lord.

I know the L.D.S church no longer practices polygamy. The only reason why I bring it up is because stuff like this did come from
a man who claimed to be a prophet of God. The reason why I point out that the Book of Mormon contradicts the Doctrine and
Covenants in major error is because they too are regarded as the word of God to L.D.S. The fact is they cannot stand up to or
compare to the bible. The Doctrine and Covenants contradicts the Bible.

D&C 132:65 Therefore, it shall be lawful in me, if she receive not this law, for him to receive all things whatsoever I, the Lord
his God, will give unto him, because she did not believe and administer unto him according to my word; and she then becomes
the transgressor; and he is exempt from the law of Sarah, who administered unto Abraham according to the law when I
commanded Abraham to take Hagar to wife.

The Bible says nothing about God commanding Abraham to take Hagar to wife. Rather we are told Abram listened to Sarai

Gen 16:2 So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid;
perhaps I shall obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

In verse 5 it is clear that Abram and Sarai sinned in this matter.

Gen 16:5 And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms; but when she saw
that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me."

Although some of the kings in the Old Testament had many wives the Bible itself condemned this practice.

Deut 17:17 "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for
himself.

There is no mention of any of the Apostles practicing polygamy in fact 1 Timothy 3:2-12 & Titus 1:5-6 indicates that they should
only have one wife. Just because some people are recorded as practicing it in the Old Testament does not mean that it is right
in the sight of God. When a book such as the Doctrine and Covenants or the Book of Mormon contradict the Bible. Rest
assured it is not the Bible that is wrong.

Journal of Discourses, Vol.11, p.127 - p.128,
Brigham Young, June 18, 1865
The founders of that ancient empire were robbers and women stealers, and made laws favoring monogamy in consequence of
the scarcity of women among them, and hence this monogamic system which now prevails throughout all Christendom, and
which has been so fruitful a source of prostitution and whoredom throughout all the Christian monogamic cities of the Old and
New World, until rottenness and decay are at the root of their institutions both national and religious. Polygamy did not have its
origin with Joseph Smith, but it existed from the beginning. So far as I am concerned as an individual, I did not ask for it; I
never desired it; and if I ever had a trial of my faith in the world, it was when Joseph Smith revealed that doctrine to me; and I
had to pray incessantly and exercise faith before the Lord until He revealed to me the truth, and I was satisfied. I say this at the
present time for the satisfaction of both saint and sinner. Now, here are the commandments of the Lord, and here are the
wishes of wicked men, which shall we obey? It is the Lord and them for it.

Does this sound like a prophet of God to you?

Journal of Discourses, Vol.1, p.50 - p.51,
Brigham Young, April 9, 1852
Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of
Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him.

Sounds like a different story than where I read God created Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis. Compare what Joseph F.
Smith says in the next 2 statements to what Brigham Young said, "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are
those who enter into polygamy." Journal of Discourses, Vol.11, p.268 - p.269

Journal of Discourses, Vol.20, p.29 - p.30,
Joseph F. Smith, July 7, 1878
If, then, this principle was of such great importance that the Prophet himself was threatened with destruction, and the best men
in the Church with being excluded from the favor of the Almighty, if they did not enter into and establish the practice of it upon
the earth, it is useless to tell me that there is no blessing attached to obedience to the law, or that a man with only one wife can
obtain as great a reward, glory or kingdom as he can with more than one, being equally faithful.

Journal of Discourses, Vol.20, p.31,
Joseph F. Smith, July 7, 1878
I understand the law of celestial marriage to mean that every man in this Church, who has the ability to obey and practice it in
righteousness and will not, shall be damned, I say I understand it to mean this and nothing less, and I testify in the name of
Jesus that it does mean that.

I realize some of these statements might seem offensive to you. I did not copy this to offend you but rather to point out that
Joseph Smith and Brigham Young are not prophets of God. I came to this conclusion because of their own statements. If you
find these statements offending I hope you realize all I did was quote who I am told were prophets of God. It also is not wrong
for me to point out the L.D.S scriptures contradict; all truth should be able to stand the test. The Bible has had numerous critics
and the truth of it shines all the more. This will continue to be true because the Bible is the word of God.